Improvement in windmills



2 Sheetsf-Sheet l. G. HODGES.

Windmill,

Patented Jan. 15,1878.

NVENTOR I .1113, N EY5 A, lill! WH'NES my? N. PETERSy PHOTO LITHD 2 sheetssheet 2.V

G. HODGES.

. Windmill.

No. 199,345. Patented Jan. 15, l187s.'

N.PEr'ERsLPHbTolLnnoGRAFHER, WAsmuGToN u c as the instance may be.

l UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.`

GEORGE H ODGEs, OE EAOINE, wrsooNsrN, As'srGNOE To EUGENE E. wrNsErr AND THEEON s. wrNsErr, OE sAME rLAOE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WINDMILLS.

l Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 99,345,.dated January 15,1878; application filed Y December 11, 1877. f

.To all whom it may concern:

.hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates vto improvements in windmills; and consists of four main parts: first of the sliding rod, whose outer head connects by braces directly with the fans, slides through a tubular axle'shaft, and is provided at its opposite extremity with a cross-bar pivoted thereon. An arrangement of cords, weighted and without weight, 'respectively connect with this swinging cross-piece, and regulate the angle of the fans relation with the breeze blowing and the strength of mill power desired.

The second feature consists in a slotted frame attachment on the upper extremity of the'pitman-rod, made with two centrally-ver tical slots communicating with the main hori- Azontal slot, which, by means of the crank,

converts rotary into a reciprocating vertical movement. These two vertical slots are to allow the-sliding horizontal rod connecting with the fans to A be free from interference with the pitman-frame attachment, so that the latter may rise and fall about it, as a vertical center, without hinderance, the rod passing freely into the upper or lower vertical slot, In connection with this feature I provide a loose block, in which the wrist-pin ofthe crank-disk centrally works, and which, by reason of its size, passes the yvertical slots or openings in the frame attachment without tendency to enter therein.

The third point of my invention is found in providing a rectangular frame, at the lower extremity of the pitman, with inner vertical rack sides, with which toothed segments engage. These segments work between the respective rack sides of the name and the central pinion xed on themain actuating-shaft which drives the parts connected with the y mill. Spring-pawls on thel inner side of each of these segments serve to alternately engage with and revolve the said pinion wheel, and the rack-frame vertically slides in guides formed on a cross-bar secured to the main supporting-frame of the mill.

The fourth feature of thel invention consists in providing mechanism, as hereinafter .set forth, for. allowing the turn-post to revolve easily,`and with as little friction as possible, so that the f wheel may turn Vinto the wind when the latter is light, or when the wheel is caught with its edges to the wind. v

Referring to the drawings, Figure lis a View in perspective of a mill made according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, part in elevation and part in section. Fig. 3 is a detached view, representing the upper pitman-frame attachment and connecting mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a detached view of the lower end bearing ofthe turn-post.

The revolving or axle shaft A made tubular, through which the sliding rod B passes. The head b of this sliding rod has the pivoted braces U connecting directly with the fans D. Its opposite extremity is provided with the cross-bar E, loosely secured thereon, to either end of which are, respectively, secured the two weighted cords F. These cords pass forward over the sheaves or pulleys f, which latter are secured to the metallic frame-piece G. A loop attachment, h, connects the cross-bar with the draw-cord H, which latter, after passing rearward over the anti-friction pulley h, returns forward, passes'over the small sheave g on the lower central portion of the frame G, and thence downward through the tubular pitman K, and out through the opening k therein. The slotted ame M, secured to the pitman, is formed with the upper and lower vertical slots m, communicating with the main horizontal slot m. As the sliding box N, in which the crank-pin n works, moves in slot m', the said frame M is not affected in its vertical movement, inasmuch as the slots m allow the rod B to pass freely in and out thereof. At the same time the size of the box A prevents the crank pin from entering these vertical slots. To the lower extremity of the pitman is also detachably secured by key p the moi v g Y Y Y 4 1 tion-frame P. provided with the two inner vertical rack sides p. Between these sides and the pinion-wheel R work the toothed segments S, provided each with the spring-pawl arm s. These pawls are secured, one to the lower, and

one to the upper side, each, respectively, of,

the two toothed segments, so that they alternately engage with the pinion-wheel in revolving the latter upon the main drivingshaft. The motion frame slides freely in vertical guides u secured to cross-bar U, which latter is suitably secured to the main frame V supporting the mill. y l

The beam W is provided with the segmental wind-board fw, mounted in bearings w upon the top of the rear body of the beam, and lengthwise therewith, its object beingto aid in bringing thewhevel into the wind under adverse circumstances, such aswhen but a slight breeze prevails, or when the `wheel is caught `with its edge to the wind. The main instrumentality, however, for effecting the purpose is formed as follows: The turn-post Y, which passes vertieally through the tubular mast X, isv pro vided with the annularcollar y on its lower extremity, which is formed with its bottom lsli ghtly convex, so as to iit into the corresponding` annular groove formed in the top of the ringiormation z of the plate Z. This plate Z is of suitable metal, and secured to the bottom of the mast by any desired means, the same be ing sufeientlystrong to bear the weight of the mill, as the latter is brought in full force upon the plate. The extreme lower extremity of the turn-post may be tapped and provided with a fastening-nut, while the opposite extremity is formed with the two annular shoulders y and y2. These latter formations serve to allow the turnfpost to rotate over the cap-piece of the mast with very little friction, as the bearing collar y, and seat z are so formed with relation to the remaining parts that all weight of the mill is borne thereby, and the cap-piece .r does not serve as a bearing for the mill, as the shoulder y2 is slightly raised therefrom.

Having fully described'my invention, what,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Ilet- 'ters Patent, isi l. The rod'slidin g through the tubular axlesl1aft,"and provided at its one extremity with braces connecting directly with the fans, while its opposite end connects with the pivotederossbar and double-weighted cord, substantially as described.' i

2. The'combination, with the pivoted eross- .sliding block, of the slotted frame engaging the pitman, and made with the two vertical -slots communicating with the main horizontal slot, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the motion-frame secured to the lower extremity of the pitman, and provided with the vertical rack sides, of the toothed segments engaging therewith, and the actuated pinion-wheel, substantially as described. v

5. The combination, with the motion-frame, segmental gears, and pinion, located between the latter, of the'spring-pawls formed thereon, and alternately engaging the said pinion, substantially as described.

6.' The combination, with the motion-frame, of thevertical guides and cross-bar, supported upon the lower main frame-work of the mill, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the tubular turnpost passing through the mast, and formed with'the collar on its lower extremity, of the metallic plate secured to the bottom of the mast, and provided with thel annular groove in the ring-formation thereon, substantially as described.

' 8. `In a windmill having a tubular mast, the combination, with the beam provided with the described wind-board, ofthe turn-post, adapted to have entire vertical bearings by means of the collar on its ylower extremity seating into the metallic plate, which latter is secured to the bottom of the mast, said collar having a convex edge, which corresponds to the annular groove or coneavity formed in the raised projection on the said bearing-plate, substantially as described.v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of November, 187 7 .Y

. GEORGE HODGES.

' Witnesses:

M. J, SMOLLEN, v J. B. WINsLoW. 

